Fruit wrapping machine



Dec. 15, 1953 T. M. VAUGHAN FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet l J k E00 20/ I /6Z THOMAS M. VAUGHAN 7 14 74, 6M? M Dec. 15, 1953 T. M. VAUGHAN 2,652,354

FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 15, 1953 T. M. VAUGHAN 2,662,354

FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 /2 INVENTOR THOMAS M. VAUGHAN Dec. 15, 1953 T. M. VAUGHAN FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 24, 1949 0; Q) Q N O) a m aswTon THOMAS M. VAUGHAN auze/9 54% W Dec. 15, 1953 T. M. VAUGHAN FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 24, 1949 INVENTOR ZTHOMAS M.VAUGHAN A570 M9 was Dec. 15, 1953 T. M. VAUGHAN 2,562,354

FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lNVENTOl THOMAS M.VAUGHAN Patented Dec. 15, 1953 FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Thomas M. Vaughan, Tampa, Fla., assignor to United Paper Company, Tampa, Fla., a corporation of Delaware Application June 24, 1949-, Serial No. 101,059

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a wrapping machine for fruits, vegetables and other articles. More particularly, it relates to a machine for applying paper wrappers to citrous fruit, such as oranges or grapefruit and constitutes an improvement on an earlier form of my machine covered by United States Patent No. 2,248,290 issued July 8-, 1941.

Thus, I have provided improvements in connection with the feeding of the friut, the positioning and feeding of the wrappers, and in the ejector, clamping, and twisting mechanisms. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative only, in which Figure 1 is a side View in elevation of the improved machine of this invention;

Figure 1A is a top view of the eccentric assembly for reciprocating the ejector mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 1B is a schematic view showing the chief elements in the path of the fruit pieces moving through the machine;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the front end of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation from the rear of a portion of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan View taken substantially along line IV--IV of Figure l and showing a part thereof;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the clamping jaw mechanism;

Figure 6 is a vertical view taken along line VIVI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical view in cross section of details of the gate mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a detailed side View in elevation of the wrapper positioning mechanism;

Figure 9 is a detailed view of the wrapper feeding mechanism taken along line lX-IX of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a detailed view of one of the gripping members shown in Figure 9;

Figure 10A is a perspective view of gripping members cam release mechanism;

Figure 11 is a plan View of a portion of the table containing a wiping opening with wiper blades in position therein;

Figure 12 is a detailed View of the construction of a wiping blade;

Figure 13 is a detailed view in perspective of the drive and braking mechanism for the wrapper twisting drum; and

Figure 14 is a view in cross section of a speedchanging clutch for the machine shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved machine comprises front vertical frame members It and rear vertical frame members ll. Horizontal frame members, respectively designated 12 and I3, connect the vertical frame members 50 and H on the two sides of the machine. Other horizontal frame members, respectively designated I4 and I5, connect frame members it and II to complete the main frame construction. of the improved machine of this invention.

In the general construction and operation of the improved machine of this invention, vegetables or pieces of fruit of relatively regular shape, such as oranges, are automatically or manually fed into a downwardly inclined chute in which a gate mechanism permits pieces to pass successively when the machine is operating. These successive pieces of fruit continue through the fruit feeding and spacing mechanism where they are given a spaced relation to each other. The passage of fruit through the feeding mechanism actuates a lever system which allows the wrapper-feeding means to successively engage wrappers. These wrapper-feeding means position the wrapper beneath an ejector mechanism into which the pieces of fruit successively pass from the fruit-feeding mechanism. As the level of the supply of wrappers drops, a wrapper stockpositioning mechanism periodically raises the wrappers into a position which will maintain the stock or supply Where the wrapper-feeding means can continue to engage successive wrappers while fruit is passing through the machine.

An ejector timed to synchronize with the balance of the operations of the machine successively ejects pieces of fruit in a downward direction from a cup at the delivery end of the chute, through a positioned wrapper, a wrapper wiping and adjustable clamping mechanism, and into a Wrapper twisting drum. This drum is rotated to complete the wrapping and then is stopped by a brake. The fully wrapped piece is pushed out of the machine by a succeeding piece of fruit on the next downward stroke of the ejector.

When the flow of fruit to the machine ceases, the machine as a whole will idle without positioning any additional wrappers or a clutch can be moved to disengage the machine from the prime mover. Moreover, the stock of Wrappers can be replenished very simply by replacing the wrapper holder which is removably attached to the machine or by inserting a fresh supply in the exhausted holder. The clutch mechanism also provides for more than one rate of operation of the machine to accommodate different sizes of 3 fruit or wrappers requiring a different speed of operation.

Fruit-feeding and spacing mechanism In the embodiment of the improved machine illustrated in the drawings, fruit, such as oranges, is placed in a shallow tray supported on a bracket 2! extending rearwardly of the machine. Oranges in tray 28 pass out through an opening at the front thereof immediately adjacent to and in registry with the entry end of a chute 22 which is also supported by bracket 2|. Chute 22 is of sufiicient size to accommodate successive pieces of fruit in single file. These pieces pass downwardly due to the incline of the chute as shown in Figures 1 and 7. A gate mechanism is employed at this point to prevent too rapid descent of the fruit and to assist in the initial spacing thereof as it passes into the machine.

The gate mechanism comprises a tongue 23 hingedly positioned at the front thereof on floor 24 of chute 22. A rocking cam 25 is mounted beneath tongue 23 so as to project through an aperture in floor 24 and move tongue 23 each time it is rocked. Cam 25 is rigidly fastened to a rocking plate 32 supported on a shaft 26 journaled in the sides of a depending enclosure 2? which in turn is fastened to the underside of chute 22. A lever 28 is aifixed to shaft 26 and causes it to rock by virtue of being connected to a rotating plate 29 on a shaft 49 through link 29. One end of rocking plate 38 is slotted for engagement with a pin extending from the side of a depending lever 3|. The lower end of lever 3| is rigidly connected to a yoke 32, the outer ends of which are fastened to parallel spaced rods 32, which pass upwardly outside the respective sides of chute 22. The upper ends of these rods are slidably joined by a yoke 33, the underside of which pivotally supports a gate lever 34, one end of which is hinged to a bracket 34 extending across the top of chute 22. Collars 33' on rods 32 periodically lift gate lever 35 out of obstructing position in chute 22 upon upward movement of lever 3| when rocking plate 35 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure '7. The upper end of lever 3! also projects through a registering aperture into chute 22 following tongue 23.

Hence, when rocking plate 30 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, obstructing gate lever 34 is raised permitting a single piece of fruit to move down chute 22 over tongue 23 (which at that moment lies flat under the influence of a spring 23) until it reaches the projecting upper end of lever 3|. As plate 30 rocks the other way, the lowering of lever 34 and the raising of tongue 23 halts additional fruit from passing along. Tongue 23 also assists the preceding piece of fruit in passing over the projecting end of lever 31 which has substantially been withdrawn. Thus each piece of fruit will pass on down chute 22 without excessive forward motion and in a somewhat periodical occurrence. If desired, a conventional counter can be attached to shaft 26 to give a record of the total number of pieces of fruit handled by the machine.

Following bracket 34', there is a shaft 38 which extends across the tops of the sides of chute 22. This shaft is rotatably supported in spaced sleeves 3'! fastened by conventional brackets to said sides. Depending levers 37 are keyed respectively at the outer ends of shaft 38. At the center of shaft 38 there is a downwardly and forwardly inclined channel plate 39, the front portion 48 of which projects into chute 22 substantially parallel to floor 24. A series of rollers 41 are journaled in the flanges of plate 39 on the underside thereof.

A rod 42 is movably connected to the lower end of each lever 31. The forward end of each rod 42 is threaded through a clevis 43 pivotally attached to the upper end of a bent crank 44. Crank 44 is pivoted at 45 to a fixed bracket 45 extending rearwardly of the frame members II. The lowermost end of each crank 44 is pivoted to a horizontal cam bar 41, the forward nd of which is swingably attached to bracket 46 by lever 48. Hence, as fruit passes beneath rollers 4|, shaft 38 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 1, cam bars 4'! are depressed and permit the gripping members of the wrapper-feeding mechanism to make contact with the topmost wrapper in the wrapper holder.

Supported on the underside of chute 22 in appropriate brackets 48 are two sprocket shafts 49 and 50, the rear one 49 of which is rotatably connected to rotating plate 29. Sprockets 5| and 52 are respectively mounted on sprocket shafts 49 and and actuate a sprocket chain 53, spaced lengths of which support in a rigid upstanding fashion fingers 54 which travel upwardly through a longitudinal slot in floor 24. The spacing of these fingers can be varied by substitution of sprocket chains having fingers with the desired distance between them. for different sizes of articles. The fingers effect a uniform and timed spacing of the fruit which passes gate lever 34 during the operation of the machine. Each piece of fruit discharged successively from a section of the chain 53 between fingers 54 drops into a cup 55 at the lower forward end of chute 22. Cup 56 is closed on three sides thereof except for a recess 51 to permit an attendant to watch the operation. Four spring clips 58 are welded around the periphery of the lower end of cup 55 and are bent inwardly so that each piece of fruit will come to rest thereon until pushed downwardly by an ejector mechanism.

The ejector mechanism comprises a vertically reciprocating ram 59 fastened to the bottom of a vertical reciprocating shaft 66. Shaft 69 is journaled in brackets 6| supported by cross members bolted to frame members II. The lower end of ram 59 is made of metal, wood, plastic or other suitable substance and has a concavity 62 therein to center each piece as it moves it downwardly in the ejection action. For the actuation of the ram 59 a cross shaft 63 is provided mounted at the upper end of the rear of the frame structure adjacent one of the members H. Shaft 63 carries a driven sprocket 64 and an eccentric 65. Surrounding the eccentric is an eccentric follower 66, the extended forward end 8'! of which is pivotally linked by link I38 to shaft intermediate the brackets 6|. The other end of follower 66 has an integral lug 66' which pivots on a pin 66a. extending through a bracket 661), which bracket is affixed to frame member Ila. Upon rotation of shaft 63, ram 59 is reciprocated through the appropriate vertical distance at a predetermined greater rate of speed on the down stroke and lesser rate of speed on the up stroke, such strokes being in synchronism with the other operations of the machine.

Wrapper positioning and feeding mechanism The supply of wrap ers for the improved machne is carried in holder '58 of generally cubical outline. Holder 13 has a floating bottom 1| there- 5 in movable vertically. Sheet metal sides 12 of holder I guide the travel of bottom 'II in connection with the vertical corner angle members of holder ID. A rigid bracket I3 is bolted to holder 79 at the rear intermediate the sides 12 and has upper and lower horizontal arms 14 extending over the stock of wrappers in the holder on bottom II. The arms N are drilled for receipt of a vertical spike i pressed into downward engagement with the topmost two or three wrappers under the influence of a spring I6 compressed between a shoulder on spike i5 and the underside of upper arm l4. Integral bands 18 extend around the rear and sides of holder 19 and terminate in outwardly extending ears I9. The upper pair of ears on upper band 18 fit into hooks 8B. The ears on lower band is are engaged by swingable latches 8| which complete the removable fastening of holder II! firmly and immovably against the rear of the machine in the position shown in Figure 1. When the supply of wrappers is exhausted or when a different size of wrapper is desired, the removal of holder H3 is a simple matter so that another holder can be hung in place on hooks 80 and the latches BI closed. In some cases, a fresh supply of wrappers may simply be inserted into an exhausted holder from the rear after the bottom II has been lowered.

Spanning the rear vertical frame members II is a shaft 82 supported in bearings 83. A rotating :2

head on pin 85 prevents any disengagement thereof from rod 81. The lower end of rod 81 is pivotally connected to the forward end of a pawl plate 88 which carries at the rearward end thereof a horizontally and laterally extending boss or lug 89. Plate 88 is freely and rotatably supported on a counter shaft 99 journaled at one end in the rearwardly extending bracket 9!. The outer end of shaft 90 is keyed to a ratchet gear 92 and a handle 93.

overhanging lug 89 there is an off-center lever 94 pivotally supported at 95 and having a crank arm portion 96 hookedly engaged underneath by an adjustable rod 91. The upper end of rod 97 is pivotally connected to the outwardly extending end 98 of a lever 99 pivoted at HIE! to the frame of the machine. The inner end of lever 99 carries a roller I9I which rests, or tends to move downwardly due to the weight of the roller, on the topmost sheet of the stock of wrappers in holder 16. A counterweight l 92 is provided at end 98 of lever 99 to partially offset the weight of roller I9], although the roller is designed to tend always to descend.

As the wrapper-feeding mechanism successively withdraws the topmost wrapper from holder I0, roller IQI will sink a corresponding amount until the wrapper positioning means are actuated to elevate the height of the topmost wrapper in the holder ii! into a position where the wrapperfeeding mechanism gripping means will continue to engage. This actuation of the positioning means occurs at a predetermined level for roller IOI, whereupon rod 91 lifts crank portion 96 and swings the lower end of lever 94 to the right (in Figure 3) out of the path of lug 89. Thereupon rod 31 descends under the influence of spring I93 between rod 8! and the frame of the machine, until the top of slot 36 rests against pin 85. Continued rotation of shaft 82 will rock plate 88 and cause a pawl IEM thereon to turn ratchet gear 92 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 8. Pawl I04 is held in engagement with gear 92 by a spring I04. A pivoted detent IE5 is maintained in engagement with gear 92 by a spring and prevents any movement of gear 92 in a counterclockwise direction when pawl N34 is returned to engage the next succeeding tooth on the gear. As gear 92 turns, it rotates shaft 93 and bevel gear I05 on shaft 90, this in turn rotates bevel gear I06 which is interiorly threaded for the reception of a Vertical threaded rod I0! journaled in brackets I58 and terminating in rotatable engagement in a cap I 99 supportin the movable bottom II. An extension 9| on bracket I68 supports the other end of shaft 99. As ratchet ear 92 turns, bottom H and the supply of wrappers thereon is elevated until roller IBI is raised into a position which permits lever 9 of its own weight, or under the influence of a spring, to again overhang lug 8% at a time when rod 81 is in its topmost position. Thereafter, pin will idle in slot until roller lEiI descends the predetermined distance. "When the supply of Wrappers is exhausted, the threaded rod ID'I can easily be returned to its lowermost position by turning handle 93 counter to the rotation of shaft 953 during elevation of bottom H and by holding pawl Hi l out of engagement by moving lever Kit to the left as seen in Figure 8 and by pressing on the free end of detent I65 to disengagement.

Shaft 82 also carries driven sprockets III! which mesh with sprocket chains IIi carrying gripping members IIi for the wrapper-feeding mechanism. At the front end of the machine there are brackets H2 supporting a cross shaft H3 having corresponding sprockets H 3 which also engage the respective chains III. Each chain IIi carries two gripping members each of which is in lateral registry with a corresponding gripping member on the companion chain III. Each gripping member comprises a lever I2I which is rotatably connected about a pivot I20 and extends laterally and outwardly from the respective carrying link of the respective chain III. Lever I2i carries on the outer end thereof in trailing position a gripping base I22 faced with a frictional material 523, such as rubber. The base I 22 is kept in wrapper engagement position by a spring I2 1.

Near the outer end of lever 52! there is a pin I25 extending laterally a sufficient distance to ride on a cam bar ii if cam bars 4'! are in raised position and raise base H22 enough to prevent gripping contact between material i23 and the topmost wrapper in holder Hi. When cam bars ii are lowered by the raising of plate 39, the facing material 623 of each pair of gripping members does engage and moves the topmost wrapper, after tearing it loose from spike 75, across and into position on a longitudinally grooved table I26. During the passage of a wrapper over table IZ i, depending fingers lZl, pivotally supported from a hangin bracket I28 supported in turn by the sides of chute 22, keep the Wrapper feeding smoothly and keep it from shifting position as the gripping members release it.

To release gripping members I i I at the end of the wrapper feeding stroke, two similar adjustable cams I38 are provided. These cams are mounted in depending fashion on the front ends of hanging brackets I35 and are in a plane substantially parallel to and just outwardly of the planes of the respective sprocket chains III. Each cam I36 has a fixed cam rise I3! and an adjustable initial cam rise I62 slidably supported next to and continuous with fixed cam rise I3! by means of screws I33. When a pair of gripping members i I I brings a wrapper into correct position beneath cup 56 at the end of the working stroke of the grip-ping members, pins I strike and ride up on the initial cam face I32 and then ride up on cam face I3! out of engagement with the newly positioned wrapper which remains in place under the pressure of fingers I21.

The wrapping mechanism Immediately upon the centering of a wrapper on table I26 beneath cup 56, ram 59 descends and pushes the piece of fruit therein through resilient members 58 and through a wiper opening I46. Opening I46 is large enough to accommodate the largest size of fruit or the like which will be wrapped on the machine. Positioned substantially entirely across opening I46 are a series of Wiper blades I34. Each of these blades comprises a sector of two or more layers of fibrous material I35 such as leather. These layers are joined by an adhesive and between such layers in each sector there is at least one thin flexible strip I36 of metal or other resilient material. Since each sector is approximately a quadrant, four such in lateral relation to each other will extend around the entire periphery of opening I40 as shown in Figure 11. By positioning a second series of such wiping blades immediately beneath the first but rotated about 4:5 in a horizontal plane therefrom, an efficient wiping orifice is obtained, the center little of which is left open and is smaller than any piece wrapped by the machine.

The wiping blades I34 are fastened around opening I40 by a ring I31 fitting into a corresponding recess in table I26 to which it is screwed in such fashion that it is flush with the top surface of table I26. Thus, as ram 59 continues its descent, wiping blades E34 cause the wrapper being pushed through wiping opening 146' by the piece of fruit, to substantially and closely en- 5 velop the bottom and sides of that piece.

The partially enveloped piece continues to descend under the force of the descending ram 59 and passes through the clamping mechanism and into a twisting drum I4I where the piece and its wrapper are held by flexible longitudinal bands I42 spaced around the inner periphery of the said drum. Bands I42 are bowed inwardly to eflect a gripping action on various sizes and types of fruits and vegetables to be wrapped. In this position the corners and sides of the wrapper extend upwardly between th open pairs of 0D- posedclamping jaws respectively numbered I43 and I44.

Each of the jaws M3 of the upper pair is slidably mounted in guide blocks I45 on table I46 positioned beneath table I26 and immediately above twisting drum Mi. Each jaw I43 has a rearward extension I4? sliding in said guide blocks I45 and pivoted at I48 to link I48 which is pivotally connected in turn to an oscillating link I 49. Link I49 rotates about a pivotal bearing I56 fixed relative to table I46. The upper end of bearing iEQ rotatably supports a grooved roller [5! which supportably engages the outer edge of a cam ring I52. The outer end of link I49 is pivotally connected to a link I53 pivoted at I54 to cam ring I52. The movement of the other jaw I43 and of the lower pair of jaws I44 is correspondingly arranged with the exception that jaws |43,upon movement-of cam ring I52 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 5 do not completely close but are slightly open at the extreme inner end of their respective'mo've ment. Jaws I44, on the other hand, are so linked tothe actuating cam ring that they eifect a; tighter closure. Jaws I44 also carry resiliently supported extensions I55 for slidable engagement across the top of jaws I43. These extensions are slidably bolted to jaws I44 by bolts I56 through brackets I 51 to compress springs I58.

The cam ring I52 is operated by an arm I59 connected by a hooked rod I60 to an'oscillat ing lever I6! rotating about a pivot I62. Lever I6: is rocked in synchronism with the other op=- erations of the machine by a threaded connecting rod I63. Connecting rod I63 is slidably pivoted to lever I6I by a clevis bracket I64. The outer end of connecting rod I63 is threaded for the reception of adjusting nuts I65 and has thereon a sleeve I66, the-position of which determines the extent of the opening of clamping jaws I43 and I44. Between clev'is I64 and the other end of rod i63 there is a spring I61 which effects spring clamping closure and prevents overactuation of the said jaws during the clo' sure movement. The lower end of connecting rod I63 is pivotally connected to the outer end of a crank I68 keyed to a shaft I69.-

Each rotation of shaft I69 eifects Oi'i' complete closing and opening cycle of clamping jaws I63 and I44 to bunch or gather the ends and edges of the wrapper protruding upwardly therethrough and to hold the wrapper sufficient- 1y tightly for the succeeding twisting operation. As the jaws close, a cam ITU-on shaft IGQ'turns' and causes its lateral rise portion to move a cam follower I1i. Follower I1I is journaled in the lower end of a bell crank lever I12 which in turn is pivoted to the frame of the machine at I13 held against the cam by a spring I85. The upper end I14 of lever I12 is adapted to swing a hinge plate I15 inwardly toward the center of the machine through the medium of a spring bolt connection I16. A constant speed electric motor I11 is fastened directly to plate I15 under table I46 with its driving shaft in a vertical position. The upper end of this shaft carries an inverted V-shaped driving wheel I18 made of leather, steel or other frictional composition. Inward movement of hinge plate I15 by lever I12 is sufiicient to bring drive wheel I18 into' driving en-' gagement with a corresponding pulley surface I19 surrounding and integral with the periphery of twisting. drum I4I. Drum MI is suspended in place by means of depending rollers I86 suspended in turn from the underpart' of table I46 and engaging a flange I81 around the upper edge of the twisting drum I4 I.

A brake lever I82 having a brake block I63 at the outer end thereof is riveted to plate I15 in an alternate 0r bifurcated arrangement relative to wheel [18. Thus, when plate I15 is moved outwardly by engagement of follower I1I"with the narrower or recessed portion of cal'n I10, block I83 moves into immediate engagement with pulley surface I19 to arrest any further rotation of drum I41 and to hold it against further movement. On the other hand, when plate I15 is swung toward the center of the machine to move wheel I18 into engagement with drum l4], block I 83 is by that very action moved' out of braking engagement with the drum. The use of an independent prime mover to rotate drum I4I to replace or adjust pulley belts or other gearing. Moreover, for a given rate of rotation of shaft I69, twisting drum MI will give each wrapper substantially the same amount of twisting each time wheel iii; moves into engagement with the said drum. Synchronism of such engage-v ment of motor H? with the balance of the operations of the machine is obtained as a consequence of the action of cam I III.

By the time of the completion of rotation of drum I M to finish the wrapping operation and the quick braking thereof by brake block I83, the other cooperating mechanisms of the machine have positioned a succeeding wrapper on table I25 and fed a succeeding piece of fruit into cup at, so that a new wrapping cycle is ready to be begun by the ejector action of ram 59. This action forces the preceding wrapped piece of fruit having a completed wrapping, out of the machine into a chute Iin'i whence it falls into a basket or other container.

The driving mechanism A second. electric motor 2% is provided for the movements of the machine other than the rotation of the twisting drum. However, both motors will usually be connected to the same electric circuit and operated through common switch although independent circuits and switches may be used where diifering motor characteristics or other circumstances make it desirable. Driving pulley Zill on the shaft of motor Ziiil turns a driven pulley 292 by means of a belt 263. Pulley 2%!2 in turn is connected to a stud shaft 2M which in turn causes the rotation of grooved pulley 2&5 by means of belt 2% and pulley 25?. As pulley 2G5 turns, shaft is turned rotating sprockets Ziiil and 2H? linked directly and respectively to driven sprockets 2i! and 2 i2 by chains 2 I I and M2. Driven sprockets 2!! and ZIZ are of different diameters and rotate freely on a shaft its without being movable axially thereof. These driven sprockets also have opposed hubs 2M. and M5 thereon which are adapted to be engaged by a clutch 2 I 6. Clutch 2I5 is slidably keyed to shaft M59 as by a spline and splineway (see Figure 14). The outer faces of clutch 2H5 which surrounds shaft 569 support integral laterally extending pins 2I'l. When clutch 2I6 is moved to one side or the other by lever ZIB about a pivot bearing m, the pins 2i! which extend in the direction in which clutch 2I6 is being moved engage corresponding recesses in the hub of sprocket 2| I or 2 I2 being approached. Thus, movement of clutch 2Is to the right, as shown in Figure 2, would engage hub 2I5. Lever 2I9 is connected to clutch 2H3 by a fork 220 encircling a necked portion 228 of the clutch. The upper end of lever 259 is linked to handle 22I which extends laterally of the machine through a slotted guide 222. Notches 223 in the underside of handle 22: enable clutch 2 IE to be selectively positioned to operate the machine at the slower speed derived from the larger diameter of sprocket 2|! or at the faster speed derived from the smaller diameter of sprocket 2 I 2 or to stop all movements of the machine while permitting sprockets 2i I and 2I2 to rotate idly about shaft I69 when clutch 2H3 is midway between them.

When clutch 2I6 is engaged with the hub of either sprocket, shaft I39 is turned causing the rotation of cam no and of driving sprocket gear 224. Gear 224 is connected in turn to driven sprocket 225 by a chain 226. The rotation of i nil gear 225 turns shaft H3 and thereby actuates the chains III of the wrapper-feeding mechanism described earlier. The rotation of sprocket chains III rotates shaft 32 which in addition to the driven sprockets HE has keyed thereto a gear 22%! and a sprocket 2353. As gear 229 turns, a meshing gear 23! mounted on is also rotated and actuates chain through sprocket 52. The rotation of sprocket turns gear 64 and shaft 63' by means of chain 232. The organization of the driving mechanism and the positioning of the relative parts of the machine driven thereby are such that the sequenceof operations is coordinated in speed and timing to achieve an integrated wrapping operation.

Although I have illustrated and described but a prefeued embodiment of my improvements, it will be understood that changes in the details and arrangements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, comprising, a feeding chute, means for feeding said pieces along said chute in successively spaced fashionspaced bars connected to said means, a holder for spaced bars, means for periodically restoring the top level of said wrappers in said holder, a table adjacent the top of said holder having an opening therein, gripping means controlled by said spaced bars for feeding the topmost wrapper from said holder and positioning it over said opening when pieces pass along said chute, said chute having its delivery end positioned over said opening, a twisting drum positioned beneath said opening, said drum being adapted. to hold said pieces, an ejector adapted to push said successive pieces into a wrapper positioned over said. open-' ing and into said twisting drum, opposed clamping jaws for bunching the flaring edges of each wrapper on each successive piece of fruit pushed into said twisting drum, independent means for separately rotating said drum to twist the ends and edges of said bunched wrapper to close the same. brake means to stop the rotation of said drum, said independent means and said brake means being fixed relative each other and swing ably mounted relative said drum, actuating means for said first mentioned feeding means, ejector and clamping jaws, a movable clutch mechanism to vary the speed of said actuating means, drive means for said clutch mechanism, and cam means connected to said actuating means for synchronizing the operation of said drum with. the operation of the parts moved by actuating means.

2. A machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, comprising, a feeding chute, means in said chute for intermittently passing a number of said pieces, means for feeding said pieces along said chute in successively spaced fashion, lever means in said chute adapted to be elevated by said pieces, spaced bars linked to said lever means and adapted to be lowered when lever means are elevated, a holder for wrappers adjacent said spaced bars, means for periodically restoring the top level of said wrappers in said holder, a table adjacent the top of said holder having a wiping opening therein, gripping means for drawing a wrapper from the top of said holder when said spaced bars are lowered and wiping opening, said cup being adapted to yieldwrappers adjacent said.

ably hold successive pieces of fruit, a twisting drum positioned beneath said opening constructed to hold said pieces, an ejector adapted to push successive pieces outof said cup into a wrapper positioned over said opening and into said twisting drum, opposed clamping jaws for bunching the flaring edges of each wrapper on each successive piece of fruit pushed into said twisting drum, independent means for separately rotating said drum to twist the ends and edges of said bunched wrapper to close the same, brake means attached to said independent means to stop said drum, actuating means for said ejector and clamping jaws, and means connected to said actuating means for synchronizing said independent means and said actuating means.

3. A machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, comprising, a feeding chute, means in said chute for intermittently passing a number of said pieces, means for moving said pieces along said chute in successively spaced fashion, lever means in said chute adapted to be elevated by said pieces, spaced bars linked to said lever means and adapted to be lowered when said lever means are elevated, a removable holder for wrappers adjacent said spaced bars, a table adjacent the top of said holder having a wiping opening therein, gripping means for drawing a wrapper from the top of said holder when said spaced bars are lowered and positioning it over said wiping opening, a cup at the delivery end of said chute positioned over said wiping opening, said cup being adapted to yieldably hold successive pieces of fruit, a twisting drum positioned beneath said wiping opening, resilient means in said twisting drum to hold said pieces, an ejector adapted to push successive pieces out of said cup into a wrapper and through said wiping opening into said twisting drum, wiping blades positioned around the periphery of said wiping opening and extending inwardly toward the center thereof, opposed clamping jaws for bunching the flaring edges of each wrapper on each successive piece of fruit held in said twisting drum, independent means for separately rotating said drum to twist the ends and edges of said bunched wrapper, brake means attached to said independent means to stop said drum, actuating means for said ejector and clamping jaws, and means connected to said actuating means for synchronizing said independent means and said actuating means.

4. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, in combination, a twisting drum, means for successively feeding said pieces into said drum, an electric motor for driving said drum by direct and intermittent engagement with the periphery of said drum, a plate hinged to the frame of said machine and carrying said motor, said plate having its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum and of said motor, and a brake carried by said plate and adapted to brake movement of said drum by direct engagement therewith, said motor and said brake being in substantially forked relation to said drum, and cam means connected to said first-mentioned means and engaging said plate to synchronize the action of said first-mentioned means with the engagement between said motor and said drum, whereby engagement between said motor and said drum occasioned by a movement of said plate disengages said brake, and conversely, engagement between said brake and said drum occasioned by another movement of said plate disengages said motor and stops said drum before a successive piece is fed into said drum.

5. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, comprising in combination, mechanism for feeding said pieces in successive fashion, mechanism for feeding wrappers in successive fashion, an ejector mechanism to push each of said pieces into a wrapper, clamping jaws to bunch the open edges of said wrappers, a twisting drum adapted to twist the bunched edges of said wrapper to complete said wrapping, an electric motor to directly and intermittently rotate said twisting drum, a hinged plate supporting said motor, a brake connected to said plate to arrest the rotation of said drum, a second motor to drive said mechanisms, and cam means actuated by said second motor to move said first-named motor into engagement with said drum at predetermined intervals between the aforesaid pushing movements of said ejector mechanism, whereby said drum is operated in sequence with the operation of said mechanisms.

6. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, a driving mechanism comprising a prime mover, fruit feeding and spacing mechanism and wrapper feeding, wiping and clamping mechanism operated by said prime mover, a. twisting drum through which said pieces successively move, said twisting drum adapted to be rotated to twist said wrapper when the edges thereof are held by said clamping mechanism to complete said wrapping, a separate prime mover to drive said twisting drum by direct engagement therewith, at least a pair of loosely mounted change speed driven clutch members connected to said mechanisms, a driving clutch member to engage one of said driven clutch members at one time to drive said mechanisms at the selected rate of speed, and cam means driven bysaid first-named prime mover to correspondingly control'the periods of drum rotation by said second-named prime mover in timed relation to the selected rate at which the several other mechanisms are operated.

'7. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, in combination, means for'feeding said pieces in single file and successively spaced fashion, a table having a wiping opening therein, resilient wiping blades positioned in said opening, means for feeding a wrapper into position over said wiping opening during the feeding of said pieces, a cup positioned above said wiping blades into which said pieces successively pass, an ejector to push said pieces out of said cup and through said wiping opening to wipe a wrapper around said pieces, a twisting drum positioned beneath said wiping opening to suecessively hold said pieces and rotate them to twist the ends of said wrappers, clamping jaws positioned between said table and said drum to resiliently hold the ends of said wrappers when said pieces are in said drum, resilient means for closing said clamping jaws after each piece has been passed between them by said ejector, a prime mover connected to said ejector, a second prime mover connected to said machine and movable relative to said drum to directly and intermittently engage said drum to rotate it, when said pieces are in said drum and said jaws are resiliently holding the ends of said wrappers, and means to move said secondprime mover into engagement with said drum when said ejector is at least above said clamping jaws.

8. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, in combination, means for feeding said pieces in single file and successively spaced fashion, a table having a wiping opening therein, resilient wiping blades positioned in said opening, means for feeding a wrapper into position over said wiping opening during the feeding of said pieces, a cup positioned above said wiping blades into which said pieces successively pass, an ejector to push said pieces out of said cup and through said wiping opening to wipe a wrapper around said pieces, a twisting drum positioned beneath said wiping opening to suecessively hold said pieces and rotate them to twist the ends of said wrappers, clamping jaws positioned between said table and said drum to resiliently hold the ends of said wrappers when said pieces are in said drum, resilient means for closing said clamping jaws after each piece has been passed between them by said ejector, a prime mover connected to said ejector, a second prime mover connected to said machine and movable relative to said drum to directly and intermittently engage said drum to rotate it, when said pieces are in said drum and said jaws are resiliently holding the ends of said wrappers, a brake movable directly and intermittently into engagement with said drum, and means to move said second prime mover into such engagement with said drum when said ejector is at least above said clamping jaws and to move said brake into engagement with said drum upon movement of said second prime mover out of said engagement with said drum.

9. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, opposed pairs of opposed clamping jaws to gather and hold the edges of wrappers enveloping said pieces, the jaws in each of said pairs having rearward extensions and being movable toward and away from each other, grooved members connected to said machine, a ring having its periphery engaging said members and guided thereby, links pivotally connected to said rearward extensions respectively, other links pivotally connected to said ring, a connecting link pivotally connecting said first-mentioned links connected to said rearward extensions and said links connected to said ring, a pivotal bearing for each said connecting link fixed relative to said ring, and means for moving said ring in opposite directions to open and close said jaws respectively through the aforesaid linkage.

THOMAS M. VAUGHAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 443,550 Stevens Dec. 30, 1890 910,901 Bucherer Jan. 26, 1909 1,423,816 Paulson July 25, 1922 1,503,585 Headly et a1 Aug. 5, 1924 1,703,641 Sowden Feb. 26, 1929 1,892,275 Jensen Dec. 27, 1932 1,924,964 Smith Aug. 29, 1933 2,248,290 Vaughan July 8, 1941 2,381,743 Harred Aug. 7, 1945 2,467,493 Pabick Apr. 19, 1949 

